James 1:2-3”My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance;”

There is a saying “that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger.”  However, I don’t think that is quite what James was saying in this passage.

I struggle with finding joy in my trials, let me tell you.  I lament, I grumble, I pout, and I whine.  The list of my poor behavior when being tested goes on but I need to keep up some kind of appearance, right?

Home school has always been a challenge; some days easier than others.  This year I have two kids to teach and it has been interesting, to say the least.  I am reminded, daily, that I do not understand boys very well.  I know my five year old boy is typical in that he cannot seem to sit still for more than a nanosecond and his attention span...  I do my best to teach while on the move but there are some things and sometimes we need to sit.  This is just one example, on the surface, of the trials I need to consider a joy, and I have it easy!

Seriously, I tuck these verses away in my heart knowing I will need them a lot.  Face trials with joy because they make us and our faith stronger.  I pray it be so.

Lord,

How many times have I come asking forgiveness for my shortsightedness?  I cannot count them!  Your Word is my strength and I hold onto it for dear life.  Guide my thoughts, my actions, and my words so that, rather than laments, I spread joy to the world.  To your glory I pray.  Amen.

Mark 6:37 “But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?’”

I am such an “inside-the-box” person, just like the disciples were in this story.

So often I cannot imagine how to accomplish what is being asked of me by God.  Even as I write I ask why?  What real good could come from my continued writings, what am I really supposed to do?

The disciples clearly hear Jesus say “you give them something to eat.”  What?  How could we do that?  That makes no sense to us, we couldn't possibly...  Jesus gathers the meager stock of food they have and asks God to bless it.  With God’s blessing, a miracle takes place.

How often do I miss out because I do not allow God to work through me?  Do others miss out because of it?

As I put soup and canned fruit in my car, as I write my pondering on scripture, as I teach my kids, I ask for God’s blessings on these.  Now I need to listen and follow his lead, a miracle just might occur...

Lord,

I cannot see as you see.  Please forgive my unwillingness to participate fully.  Make clear to me the path you have set before me and, Lord, please bless that path and all who are a part of it.  Use me as you will, to your glory.  Amen.

Psalm 139:13-14 “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.”

Yesterday I hosted the home school co-op at my house.  We are studying the human body in science and the project was to investigate our fingerprints.

As I think about the kids that were standing around my table I could tie together siblings pretty easily even if I did not know the kids.  Most of them look enough like each other that it is apparent who belongs with whom.  Still, none of us are the same.

Just as our fingerprints indicate, we are each individually created and formed by the Creator, the One True God.  No one shares an exact match of fingerprint with anyone else.  Even identical twins do not share these prints.  Like there are no two snowflakes exactly alike (as far as we know) there are no two people that are exactly alike.

Go into the day celebrating your individuality.  Praise the Lord for he has fearfully and wonderfully made you; you are unique and special!

Lord,

Thank you for the reminder of your care and love for each of us through these verses and through our fingerprints.  Help us use our unique gifts and personalities to serve you.  Unite us together with our Christian brothers and sisters so we work together to further your kingdom until you come.  Amen.

Psalm 96:9 “Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.”

The tree leaves rustle with a breeze this morning.  The birds are not so vocal in their songs.  The sun brings light to the sky, first a glow of pink and quickly turning it to a light blue.  A new day has begun.

In this quiet moment, I am awe struck at the splendor of God.  The world is full of his creation and his splendor is shown throughout it.  I go through my days with blinders on, stuck in the mundane tasks of normalcy.  This morning I see, for a moment, the beauty of the earth, the beauty of his people, and the holy splendor of God all around me.

As I prepare to go worship in church, I hold this feeling of deep worship in my soul.  I remember all that God has done for me, with me, and through me and I tremble before him.  I do not tremble in fear, I tremble in awe.

I join the voices of nature; I join the voices across nations and throughout the earth, in praise and worship to this, the Almighty, the One True God.  All glory, laud, and honor to you Redeemer King!

Lord,

I am at a loss for words this morning.  You know my heart and I know the Spirit intercedes where my language falls short.  Thank you for this time with you.  Thank you for leading me beside still waters and restoring my soul.  I praise your holy name and still tremble at the foot of your throne.  You are an awesome God and I forever worship you.  Amen.

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

I do not like the word grudge.

The word sounds dark and heavy to me; kind of dirty, like mud.

I like to think of myself as a fairly forgiving person.  I tend to let things roll off of me without sticking too much and I am, most of the time, able to see value in people.  That is like forgiveness, right?

I forgive my kids and my spouse for the things they do and say that they do not even know hurt me or things they say in a moment of anger to hurt me.  Have I forgiven all of the people in my past that have hurt me?

Forgiving debts is something banks used to do and, in a way, still do.  After 7 years of bankruptcy, records are expunged, the debt is forgiven.  I know I have held things in my heart for much longer than 7 years and it is well beyond time to expunge them from my records.

I search my heart, I ask the Spirit to show me where any grudges hide in the depths of me.  I want to be free from them and release the debts forever.  Forgiveness is freedom for everyone.

Lord,

Bring forth the things I need to forgive so they are clearly before me and no longer tucked away, weighing me down.  Work in me, and through me, to be a forgiving and gracious person; I want to be like you.  Help me forgive, expunge the records.  Thank you, Lord, for your forgiveness.  Amen.

James 4:2-3 “...You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.”

This nearly jumped off of the page as I read.

I immediately thought of my kids; not just my kids but their playmates as well.  They are all at an age where lies and deception become a real temptation.  They say what they think you want to hear so they can get what they want or avoid what they don’t want.

My daughter and I were talking about lying a few days ago and she asked why I never lie, or if I do.   My quick answer was that I learned the value of truth and the lies always cause damage even if you never get caught by another person.  My kids lie because they want and they know they will not receive what they ask for because of their desired purpose.  Am I different?

What do I ask for from God?  What is the true reason I ask?  This is something that requires soul searching on my part.  It is easy to say what I ask him for but do I deceive myself in the reason for asking?  Today I ask the Lord to reveal this truth to me.

Lord,

Is it part of our human nature to be selfish?  I see it from the time we are small children and slowly as we grow we learn to move beyond our selfishness.  You know for me it is not always a forward motion.  Forgive me for not seeking, not asking, asking wrongly.  I know you are not done with me yet, I come to you ready to move forward again.  Amen.

Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

When I read this passage I picture a knight in shining armor.  I see heavy chain mail and heavy plated armor covering every part of the body to protect it from harm.

As I prayed and pondering this scripture today I thought Paul likely visualized a Roman soldier.  I imagine the armor they wore was still substantial and weighty but not to the degree of the medieval knights.

God’s armor is really not like either of these.  Truth does not weigh us down, it sets us free.  Righteousness lifts us up, it does not press heavily on our chests.  If I were to visualize the armor of God it would be weightless yet impenetrable.  It would shimmer and shine with an almost iridescent light, the light of God.  It does not sit on the outside of us either, it comes from within; it comes from the Holy Spirit, who resides within us.

We never know when an attack from the enemy will be.  It is unlikely we will hear the battle charge coming, he is much more subversive.  So, be ready.  Pray, study, learn and trust in the Lord.  Be strong in His power.

Lord,

Let us not lean on our own “power” when fighting these battles, we are not strong enough.  Thank you for your Spirit and your power, thank you for giving us these things to fight the battle with.  You know when the battle comes, work within us so we are ready in that time.   In Christ, Amen.